Wet and muddy conditions made life tough for competitors in the Asprey and Garrard International Driving Grand Prix. For the second time in the last three years the winner was the Champion of the Netherlands, Ysbrand Chardon who successfully renewed his rivalry with Britain's George Bowman and his wonderful team of black Cumberland Cobs.

One of the great things about International driving competitions is the atmosphere. The competitors bring large quantities of foot followers from home and watching the event is a very international occasion indeed and generates great partisan support! Despite this the rivalry is extremely friendly and all supporters show their appreciation of a good performance with a remarkable lack of bias.

Ysbrand Chardon & his team entering the water complex

Ysbrand had a new horse in his team of Dutch Warmbloods and did make some mistakes in the obstacles but his marathon section was excellent and stood him in good stead since he finished in the lead. His great rival George Bowman had won the dressage phase but he too had difficulties in the cross-country especially at the beginning. Once he had put these early hiccups behind him though he really began to flow around the course and overall put up a very good performance. The actual winner of the cross-country section was Harry de Rujter from the Netherlands. His team of grey Warmbloods put in a smart performance but he was let down by his efforts in the other sections and in the end he finished in fourth position.

George Bowman & his Cumberland Cobs

In third place came Felix Brasseur from Belgium with his lovely team of Lipizzaners, so honours were fairly evenly distributed. Tension was maintained right to the end since there was so little to choose between George Bowman and Ysbrand Chardon going into the final phase, the cone driving. Clear rounds were required which they both duly produced so their relative positions at the end of the cross-country were maintained.

In the pony teams section, competition was just as strong. Unfortunately Georgina Frith, the reigning European Champion was not in the best of form and was in any case without her best pony. After the dressage she was only in fifth place. Determined driving across country did help her cause and she ended the day in second position, despite having difficulties in the water complex. The winner was Mia Allo from Belgium with her striking team of palomino Welsh ponies. Her good dressage test left her in second place and this was reinforced by an extremely good cross-country performance, which was without incident. Not surprisingly this has given her a confidence boost prior to the European Championships in France this July. At least Georgina Frith can have the consolation of knowing that she has not peaked too soon! It will be interesting to see the outcome of their renewed rivalry.

Colin Allen - Winner of the Tandem Class

For the first time ever there was a class for tandems but there were no foreign contestants. Colin Allen won this with his hackney/Welsh Cobs and it was lovely to see Lady Ramsey's smart Fell ponies finish in second place. British drivers also did well in the single classes. It has taken James Robson 25 years to record his first win at Windsor - persistence was finally rewarded! His Welsh Cob 'Duke' heat sane very still international competition which will no doubt make this long overdue victory all the more fulfilling.

In the single pony class, the result was decided in the marathon scores because Rachel Stevens Connemara pony, Buttons, finished on equal points with Germany's Uwe Nitz once again the competition was extremely tight. So delighted was Henk van der Weil after winning the pairs that he thought (at the tine at least!) that it was even better than winning a World Championship. There is no doubt though that the ground at Royal Windsor does give the occasion a unique atmosphere and that competitors and spectators alike can't help but respond to it. Watching the competitors in all the driving classes wend their way around the grounds of the castle and beside the River Thames is special and a wonderful sight... Don't miss next year's event !

In 2000 The Royal Windsor Horse Show and Driving Championships will be held on the 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th of May

Report and photographs by Sue Wingate